Stunning Off-Grid iT House Sits Peacefully Within the Tranquil Desert Landscape

Californians often take their gorgeous landscape for granted, but leave it to an architect to remind us of all the glory that stretches out before our very eyes. Located in Pioneertown, the itHouse is a stunning off-grid construction that pulls the outdoor elements in for both aesthetic and energy. Designed by Taalman Koch, the home utilizes a modular, prefabricated system to cut down on waste and labor, as well as a number of passive heating and cooling measures. Conceived as a small house with glass walls and open floor plan, the itHouse beautifully melds the indoors with the surrounding landscape all while maintaining a light footprint on the delicate site.

Settled within one of the most unique, naturally formed areas of the Golden State, Pioneertown sits nearby Joshua Tree National Park and the Coachella Valley. The area is remote, serene and free from distractions, making it the perfect site for the modern refuge from the city. Light natural finishes and ample daylighting blur the lines between the indoors and out and give the home a large, open and free-flowing feel despite its small size.

Energy efficiency is achieved through passive heating and cooling, utilizing site orientation and cross ventilation, radiant floor heating, hi-efficacy appliances and the use of solar photovoltaic and thermal panels on the roof. Natural lighting is provided by floor to ceiling glass windows, and a graphic design by artists Sarah Morris and Liam Gillick has been strategically mapped out on discreet areas of the glass walls to create framed views, sun-shading screen patterns and privacy zones.